Subj : Re: EU rejects claims of cens
To   : Mike Powell
From : Rug Rat
Date : Mon Sep 01 2025 14:49:46

Apparently South Korea is not the only country with strict defamation laws.

Poland has similar "Insult" laws..  

Poland's insult laws include provisions against insulting groups or individuals based on national, ethnic, racial, or religious affiliation, with penalties potentially including imprisonment up to three years. There are also laws protecting the good name of the Republic of Poland, the president, and other heads of state from public insult, also punishable by imprisonment. Additionally, the law prohibits the intentional offense of religious feelings and the public dissemination of antisemitic literature or the promotion of fascism, communism, or other totalitarian systems. Critics argue these laws can be misused to stifle free speech and public debate. 
Key areas of Polish law related to insults and public offenses:

Public Insult of Groups or Persons:
Under Polish law, anyone who publicly insults a group of the population or a specific person because of their national, ethnic, racial, or religious affiliation, or their lack of religious denomination, can be sentenced to imprisonment for up to three years. 

Insult to the State or President:
Publicly insulting the Nation or the Republic of Poland is a criminal offense, as is insulting the president or a foreign head of state. Penalties can range from fines to imprisonment for up to three years. 

Offense of Religious Feelings:
The law prohibits the intentional offense of religious feelings. There is also a blasphemy law (Article 196 of the Penal Code) that can lead to a fine, restriction of liberty, or a prison sentence of up to two years for publicly calumniating an object or place of worship. 

Hate Speech and Promotion of Totalitarianism:
The law prohibits the public promotion of fascism, communism, or other totalitarian systems and the dissemination of antisemitic literature. 

This again is why, while I might not agree with how the 1st Amendment Auditors go about bringing awareness to our 1A protection.  A lot of it does seem to be geared towards getting hits to their social media platform for money.  It does demonstrate how ignorant a lot of Americans are towards our rights, and for that reason I am all for it!

It does put me in an awkward position though in regards to buring of the flag in protest, as I do find it distasteful, and I understand the strong negative feelings it stirs up.  However, as a big proponate of freedom of speech and expression, and the SCOTUS has ruled numerous times that it is protected.  I either have to shut up or be a hypocrite, and I refuse to be a hypocrite. :)

Rug Rat (Brent Hendricks)
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